Nanny/au pair in France?

[atswimtwolengths]

Hi - this is posted on the overseas homes thread too, so apologies for duplication.

My daughter is in her 2nd year at university, studying French. She has to live in France this summer to improve her language skills (mandatory part of the course).

She found work in EuroCamp in St Malo but unfortunately there isn't the opportunity to speak any French at all.

She's desperately looking for work, preferably with accommodation. Her tutor says the university will give her some money, but this will probably pay for rent or living, not both!

She's hard working, articulate, presentable and very reliable. Yes, I know I'm her mum!

Just posting this on the (very) off-chance that you are in France and need an au pair or a nanny for the summer!

Thanks.

I'm in an overseas part of France but it's probably a bit far!

If she fancies coming to the Indian Ocean I'm fairly sure I could find someone but the flights are probably as much as she'd earn. Accomodation and food would be included and au pair salaries are around 60-70€/week.

Does she have much childcare experience? How long is she looking at coming for?

Thanks for your reply, Vive.

Sorry, though this sounds marvellous, the flights would be far too expensive for her!

She needs to work until about 15th September, when term starts again. She doesn't have childcare experience (in terms of employment) but is good with children. She had a gap year in Canada and turned her hand to a lot of different things - she's a hard worker and adaptable.

How lucky for you being there when it's raining and cold here!

We have plenty of rain, but I long for some cold!

I suggest she looks at advertising on places like franglo or angloinfo, greataupair, aupairworld and nannyjob.

Tbh the rentrée in France is the start of September so people are unlikely to want someone after then. Plus the market is very competitve for au pairing at the moment and lots of people applying will have solid childcare experience as well as good language skills. The other thing to remember is English au pairs are often hired to speak to the kids in English. Slight counterintuitive but quite often the case. It's not impossible but au pairing is definitely not an easy option to get into.

I'll have a think and see if I know anyone on the mainland. Does it have to be au pairing or would she do pretty much anything? And when would she want to start?

I've put an advert on 'greataupair' for her (she hasn't internet access where she is now so can't do it herself.)

It doesn't have to be au pair work; she just needs the experience of mixing with French people so that she can improve her French. At the moment she's stuck with English people so there's little point in her being there.

She'll do anything, really - at the moment she's on a EuroCamp campsite so it's all cleaning, greeting guests, dealing with any problems, etc. She's a very bright girl and very adaptable.